Waco Favorite Tips by ATXtraveler Top 5 Page for this destination

The Waco Suspension Bridge - Historical Marker

Favorite thing: In 1866, the Waco Bridge Company received a 25 year charter that no toll bridge or ferry would be built within 5 miles of this bridge so they would be able to recoup the cost of the bridge's budget.

Over those 25 years, people, vehicles and cattle were all charged to cross the bridge until 1889 when McLennan County purchased the bridge and turned it into a free bridge.

This is significant in Texas history, as this was a major contributor to the Chisholm Trail, which herded cattle from the Texas plains up to Colorado.

Texas Star Bear

Favorite thing: As Texas is known as the Lone Star State, I liked this piece of art in front of Baylor's Law School. Not only is it a Bear, which is Baylor's mascot, but it is also in the shape of the Texas Lone Star.

Dual art, very interesting!

Just outside of Baylor's Law School, which is located off I-35 and University Parks, just past the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Thomas Hudson Barron Historical Marker

Favorite thing: Thomas Hudson Barron was one of the major contributors to the story of Waco. As one of the first pioneers to Texas, Barron was a volunteer in the building of Texas and came from his home state of Arkansas. He became the first clerk of McLennan County, and has many landmarks within Waco named after him.

This memorial marker is located within the First St. Cemetery in Fort Fisher Park, the park which Barron was a part of establishing.

Waco Longhorn Club Historical Marker

Favorite thing: This historical marker designates the founding members of the Waco Longhorn Club, this is a non-profit sharing horse club, organized in 1941, which is the oldest club of its kind in the US.

Texas Rangers and Fence Cutters Historical Marker

Favorite thing: Before 1875 in Texas, Cattle roamed over thousands of acres of public land, and free grazing became a tradition. After 1875, an increasing farm populace tended to protect crops and other property with barbed wire fences which were resented by the stockraisers, cattle losses in the 1880s provoked cutting of fences.

In 1884, Texas enacted laws to curb the practice, and the Texas Rangers were dispatched by the Governor to apprehend the fence cutters.

To find out how this story ended, please visit the Texas Ranger Museum and this historical marker in Waco.

Waco Historical Marker

Favorite thing: Within Sight of this spot March 1, 1849, occured the first sale of town lots at Waco Village. Former home of Waco Indians. Shapley Ross, First Settler started Brazos Ferry in 1850, McLennan County was created same year, named for Neil McLennan, Pioneer Scot whose cabin on the South Bosque River became first Anglo-American Home in the area (1845).

Waco, County Seat, grew steadily as a center of trade education and industry for rich farm area completion of First Brazos River Bridge 1870 and coming first railroad 1872 set city on the road to industrial expansion.

More can be seen in front of the Texas Ranger Museum.

Waco Visitors Information Center

Favorite thing: If you are headed to Waco, and do not plan to do any informational gathering previous to your trip, I would recommend stopping in to the Waco's Visitor Information Center located next to the Texas Ranger Museum and First Street Cemetery.

It has very clean bathrooms, plenty of material on what to do and see in Waco, and also some discount admissions to various attractions.

The staff is very courteous and were helpful in assisting me where to go.

Waco's Visitor Information Center

Favorite thing: If you are planning a trip to Waco, make sure that you stop in at the Visitor's Information Center located just south of the Texas Ranger Museum.

It contains clean bathrooms, helpful ambassadors, and also plenty of discount admissions to all of the area attractions.

The center also has a website, which will help you choose what you want to do prior to your trip.

http://www.wacocvb.com/visitor.html